On Being a Good Follower

1 Timothy 3: 8 The same goes for those who want to be servants in the church: serious, not deceitful, not too free with the bottle, not in it for what they can get out of it. 9 They must be reverent before the mystery of the faith, not using their position to try to run things. 10 Let them prove themselves first. If they show they can do it, take them on. 11 No exceptions are to be made for women - same qualifications: serious, dependable, not sharp-tongued, not overfond of wine. 12 Servants in the church are to be committed to their spouses, attentive to their own children, and diligent in looking after their own affairs. 13 Those who do this servant work will come to be highly respected, a real credit to this Jesus-faith.

"Follow me on Twitter" is far different from what Jesus meant when He said to the disciples, "Follow me." To follow someone on Twitter is to be a fan of them; to follow Jesus is a whole-hearted commitment. The passage for today stresses that, for Paul writes that the ministry of Christ requires devoted followers as much as devoted leaders. Not all are called to lead; most are called to follow. How many churches have Follower Classes? Most churches are guilty of leadership development and leadership seminars. We never have a class on being a good follower. Why is that? This passage would serve as a good guide for being Christ's good follower, for the list for a follower is as extensive and true as for a leader. A follower must take their ministry seriously and honestly, both with God and God's people. A follower must recognize that in following Jesus, one becomes a servant, and a faithful servant is sober with his/her taks, and undertakes given tasks for the good of God, not personal gain. In being a servant one accepts any task and does it as best as they can. Being a servant is not just for one sex; all are servants, commited to family, and faithful in their own personal lives as well as the task of Christian ministry. A good servant-follower will earn the respect of others and bring honor and glory to our faith.

To follow Jesus is to follow humbly behind the One who gives us life. To follow Jesus as a servant is to submit willingly to tasks that perhaps others might not want nor see as meaningful or at their "level." Nonetheless, the work is done for the glory of God, not ours, and is but a piece of a larger picture we may not fully yet understand.

PRAYER: Loving God, allow me to follow You, not as a fan, but as a complete devotee and servant, willing to give You honor and glory by accepting that which You ask of me. Give me the right attitude and perspective for doing that which perhaps no one else will undertake. I ask this in Christ Jesus' precious and powerful name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde